Device for printing characters by points

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a device for printing characters by points wherein an arrangement is provided for rendering visible the last character printed. The printing of characters is effectuated by means of movable printing elements located in a guiding member. Said guiding member in the vicinity of the printing support is bevel-edged and provides a dihedron one face of which forms an angle of nearly 90* with the part of the said support located on the side of the already printed character so as to render the last printed character visible. This arrangement permits to correct more easily printing errors.

United States Patent [191 Murat [111 3,822,005 [451 July 2, 1974 DEVICEFOR PRINTING CHARACTERS BY POINTS [75] Inventor: Roger H. Murat,Argenteuil, France [73] Assignee: Societe DApplications GeneralesDElectricite Et De Mecanique, Paris, France [22] Filed: Mar. 12, 1973[21] Appl. No.: 340,381

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 4, 1972 France 72.15905 [52]US. Cl 197/1 R, 197/151, 197/170 [51] Int. Cl B4lj 3/10 [58] Field ofSearch 197/1; 101/93 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS1,874,700 il/1 9}; Gardner 101/93 MN 3,312,163 4/1967 Muyshondt l97/l XPrimary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-R. T. RaderAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Abraham A. Saffitz [5 7] ABSTRACT Thisinvention relates to a device for printing characters by points whereinan arrangement is provided for rendering visible the last characterprinted.

The printing of characters is effectuated by means of movable printingelements located in a guiding member. Said guiding member in thevicinity of the printing support is bevel-edged and provides a dihedronone face of which forms an angle of nearly 90 with the part of the saidsupport located on the side of the already printed character so as torender the last printed character visible.

This arrangement permits to correct more easily printing errors.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 2 i974 sum 1 or 2 Fig 1:mgminJuL 21874 3.822.005

MEI 2 OF 2 Fig 2 DEVICE FOR PRINTING CHARACTERS BY POINTS The presentinvention is an improvement in devices for printing characters by pointshaving mainly as its object a constructional arrangement permitting ofmaking visible constantly the last character printed so as to facilitatethe work of the operator of the printing machine.

In known machines printing characters by characters in which stylets orprinting elements disposed in a line or in columns strike an ink ribbonor directly a printing support, the actual head, due to the spacerequired for the guides of the stylets, has a relatively large dimensionin the direction of the line of characters in course or printing so thatseveral of the characters previously printed are hidden from theoperators sight at the time of the striking of a certain character.There is however provided in certain machines a relative temporarydisplacement of the paper or of the writing head in relation to oneanother between two character strikings perpendicularly to the line ofwriting which causes the whole of the characters of the line alreadyprinted to appear. These machinesare sophisticated and furthermore whenthe striking is rapid, the operator sees the last character printed in afleeting and consequently inadequate manner. The arrangement of theguide of the printing elements permits, according to the invention, ofcancelling this drawback and rendering the last character printedconstantly visible.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the descriptionwhich will follow of a preferred em bodiment in which the printingelements, by way of a non limiting example, are those described in U.S.Pat. application Ser. No. 223,950, now abandoned and to the attacheddrawings in which:

FIG. I shows a perspective view of the device according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a view partly in section on the plane l-l of the device ofFIG. 1.

In these figures, the same elements have the same reference numbers.

In FIG. I the tips of the printing elements are represented by 20 to 2g,the printing sheet at 11, the tip of the guiding member of the printingelements at 9, the guiding member at 8, the electro-magnets for controlof the printing elments at 5 and 5, the movable blades of theelectromagnets from 6a to 6g. The inking ribbon I0 is driven incontinuous or discontinuous rotation by means of drums a, 15b, 15c, 15dby means which do not form a part of the invention. The seven printingele ments which are superimposed blades pass inside the guiding member9, but according to the invention, this member 9 terminates towards thesheet 11, in a dihedron of which the left face on the side towards thecharacters already printing forms an angle of nearly 90 with the sheet11. This arrangement is clearly visible in FIG. 2. The printing elementsare superimposed blades, the section being effected level with theelement la for example. The ribbon I0 is supported on the two faces 9 aand 9b of the guiding member 9. This member 9 is bevel-edged so that theface 9a is almost perpendicular to the sheet 11, the face 912 forming aslight angle with this sheet I]. The ribbon I0 is likewise in contactwith the calibration hole 13 of the member 9 which allows the ends ofthe operated printing elements to pass. In FIG. 2 the ribbon 10therefore passes in the immediate vicinity of the end 13a of theprinting blade 10. The last character printed has been shown at 16a. Itis clear in the two figures that this character is visible to theoperator of the machine from the end of its printing.

The printing device of the invention shown in FIGS. I and 2 compriseselongated printing elements 1a to lg set in a vertical plane. Controlmeans are provided for the printing element by the groups ofelectromagnets 5 and 5' for longitudinally moving said printing elementsand a guiding member 8 surrounding said printing elements which isgenerally perpendicular to the printing sheet 11 and which is bevelledat its end 9 near said printing sheet so that said end has the shape ofa dihedron having one face 9a (FIG. 2) making an angle slightly lessthan with the part of said printing sheet located on the side of thealready printed characters.

Means (not shown) are provided for moving said guiding member in thedirection of said printing line.

The stop position of the writing head in fact is located on the right ofthe character to be printed and, according to an essential feature ofthe invention, the difference of length between the writing step and thewidth of a character is greater than the distance between the end of theguiding member near the printing sheet on the side of already printedcharacters and the vertical plane of the printing members. The operatormay therefore check constantly and without any delay the text which heis instructed to print.

The arrangement according to the invention can also be used in the caseof machines in which the printing elements strike directly a specialinking paper without having therefore an inking ribbon. In a machine ofthis type, the ribbon 10 as well as its driving members must bedispensed with, the arrangement of the other parts remaining the same.It is obvious that the omission of the thickness of the ribbonfacilitates still more the ob taining of the result sought.

What we claim is:

1. Printing device for printing on a printing sheet columns of marksbelonging to a character of a printing line comprising:

elongated printing elements set one upon another in a vertical plane;

control means for longitudinally moving said printing elements;

a guiding member comprising two parts the first of which is generallyperpendicular to said printing sheet and which is bevelled at its endnear said printing sheet so that said end has the shape of a dihedronhaving one face making an angle slightly less than 90 with the part ofsaid printing sheet located on the side of the already printedcharacters for rendering visible the last printed character and a secondpart having a face forming a slight angle with respect to the printingsheet; said printing elements passing between the two guiding memberparts for printing; and

means for moving said guiding member in the direction of said printingline.

2. Printing device according to claim I wherein said characters have afixed step and a fixed width on the printng line, characterized in thatthe difference in length between said step and said width is greaterthan the distance between the end of the guiding member near the printinsheet on the side of already printed gharacters and t e vertical planeof the printing memers.

3. Printing device according to claim I furthercomprising an inkingribbon applied against the faces of said dihedron and against acalibration hole provided in said guiding member in which are lodgedsaid print-

1. Printing device for printing on a printing sheet columns of marksbelonging to a character of a printing line comprising: elongatedprinting elements set one upon another in a vertical plane; controlmeans for longitudinally moving said printing elements; a guiding membercomprising two parts the first of which is generally perpendicular tosaid printing sheet and which is bevelled at its end near said printingsheet so that said end has the shape of a dihedron having one facemaking an angle slightly less than 90* with the part of said printingsheet located on the side of the already printed characters forrendering visible the last printed character and a second part having aface forming a slight angle with respect to the printing sheet; saidprinting elements passing between the two guiding member parts forprinting; and means for moving said guiding member in the direction ofsaid printing line.
 2. Printing device according to claim 1 wherein saidcharacters have a fixed step and a fixed width on the printng line,characterized in that the difference in length between said step andsaid width is greater than the distance between the end of the guidingmember near the printing sheet on the side of already printed charactersand the vertical plane of the printing members.
 3. Printing deviceaccording to claim 1 further comprising an inking ribbon applied againstthe faces of said dihedron and against a calibration hole provided insaid guiding member in which are lodged said printing elements.